Martinez decided to turn that question into a research project.
“I was interested in exploring that for the fellowship.”
Using US Census Bureau data, Martinez spent monthsmappingthe state of internet connectivity in the Bronx.
“I was interested in the mapping portion because I’m a visual person,” Martinez said.
But how does this actually look on a map?"
In fact, the Bronx was one of thecity’s worst-connected boroughs.
But was the correlation between low-income neighborhoods and lack of adequate internet access an indication of deeper systemic issues?
A lot of researchers seemed to think so.
The divide between households with access to high-speed internet and households without access is a nationwide issue.
What is digital redlining?
The report called the practice “digital redlining.”
Unlike redlining, however, digital redlining isn’t an illegal practice.
Consequently, low-income communities are often the last to get faster internet, time and time again.
Studies from other researchers followed suit with similar findings across the country, including inLos AngelesandPhiladelphia.
In 2022,The Markupand the Associated Press published a study with evidence of digital redlining across 38 cities.
Both programs were instrumental in heralding a new era of improved internet connectivity.
The ACP provided a significant $30 to $75 monthly discount on internet bills for qualifying households.
All DEI-related web pages have since been scrubbed from the Commissions website.
Similar legislative efforts face uncertain futures too.
BEAD is on track to approve proposals and dole out its funding in the coming years.
The legal battles surrounding equitable internet access have swung back and forth over the years in a similar fashion.
But as our world becomes increasingly dependent on the internet, accessibility remains a widespread problem.
What’s the current state of digital redlining?
The trade groupUSTelecomfound that broadband prices decreased while the costs of overall consumer goods and services increased since 2015.
Each state has offered slightly different plans, though each emphasizes community-centric solutions.
As such, the responses from cities grappling with digital redlining have all been unique.
Cleveland Census Tracts by Median Household Income
Source: Connect Your Community.
I posed the question to Callahan.
I dont have any proof of that.
Thats why he and other Spectrum workers went on strike in 2017 and created an internet co-op.
Even New York City grapples with gaps in internet connectivity.
Among the commercial internet providers in the Bronx, Optimum is the biggest,according to the FCC.
“We also offer affordable high-speed internet options for customers beginning at $14.99.
Mostlow-income households in the Bronx still struggle to access high-speed internetdespite it being more prevalent than before the pandemic.
Statewide initiatives have somewhat helped.
But what happens when some households dont make the switch?
Or if there arent laptops or computers in the home?
“Digital discrimination is more broad [than digital redlining], Siefer said.
And that’s certainly helpful.
Data showsthat low-income, minority and older communities are more likely to rely on internet access via a phone.
Toward an equitable digital landscape
Its no secret that digital redlining still exists.
The broadband divide has proven a long, uphill battle without a universal solution.
